Maura Vargas has lived across the street from Hunter’s Point South Park in Long Island City, Queens for five years. She says she moved to the neighborhood for the proximity to the river, city views and access to the park where she holds weekly yoga classes.
Maura Vargas, lives in the area and believes that: “Connecting with nature is something very important.”
Vargas recently learned that the city’s economic development firm CDE, the organization that operates the ferry system, has proposed the construction of two berths in front of the park’s center as part of the plan to relocate the ferry that operates from a end of the park. She says she is disappointed as this will affect her quality of life and that of her neighbors:
“This is an area where you can see all the families and all the children playing outside, we are close to several schools in this area and in the summer and during recess you can, that is their place to exercise, play with other people and have fun.”
Standing and speaking, Rob points to the horizon and comments: “Some big boats…”
Rob Basch, the president of the Hunters Point parks conservation organization, says that since receiving notification of the ferry transfer in October, he has met with the city council and with the support of Councilwoman Julie Won, and the neighbors have not they will stop until they find another place to transfer the ferry
“It will have an extremely negative impact on the park, Basch said. He added that the area they plan to build in will destroy the esplanade where visitors walk and run.“
The owner of Frank’s Ottomanelli’s by the Water, the only restaurant in the park where most weddings and other events take place, further indicates that:
“The amazing view of Manhattan is the biggest draw to this Long Island City community and park.”
On hija Tatiana holds: “Good service, good food.” She says that because she is the event planner, some clients who have planned a wedding for 2024 are reconsidering the event after learning of the ferry transfer plan.
For his part, the spokesman for the city’s economic development agency sent a statement in which he said:
“Hunters Point South Pier is dilapidated and needs to be replaced, but building a ferry dock in this area poses significant challenges due to the Queens Midtown Tunnel and the AMTRAK rail line directly under the park.”
The area community along with members of the park conservation organization meet this month with representatives of the city’s economic development corporation to discuss other options for where the ferry station can be relocated.
